Gas-burner indicator and control



Jan. 30; 1923. 4 1,443,447. E. s. WHITE.

GAS BURNER INDICATOR AND CONTROL.

FILED OCT. 20. 1921. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' Jan. 30, 192s.- 1,443,447

E. S. WHITE.

GAS BURNER INDICATOR AND CONTROL.

FILED 0cT.20, 1921. 4 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Jan. 30, 1923.

UNITED srAr s PATENT. OFFICE.

, ELWOOD 8. WHITE, OF GLEN COVE, NEW YORK.

GAS-BURNER INDICATOR AND CONTROL.

7 Application filed October 20, 1921. Serial in 509,072.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known-that I, ELWOOD S. Wants, a citizen of the United StatesQand a resident of Glen Cove, county of Nassau, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Gas-Burner'lndicator and;Control, of which thefollowing is a specifica tion.

The invention relates to a device by means of which a valve may be manipulated from a distant point whereby the gas in a water a heater, or the like, may be turned on or oil from the distant point, and more particu larly to use in connection with a gas burner providedwith a pilot light, by means of which the gas issuing from the burner will be ignited when the valve is so turned as to permit of the escape of gas through the burner. i

The objects of the'invention are to provide an apparatus of the character described by means of which the gas may be turned on from a distant point; by mea'nsof which mechanism at the distant point will indiparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modification.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of another modification.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a further modification, and v Fig. 5 is a similar view of a still further, modification.

In the drawings 1 designates a burner carried on and in communication with a gas pipe 2 in which is located a valve 3. On the stem of the valve is secured a double lever at. A. pivoted armature 5 engages with its and the sverat one side of the stem,

and a pivoted armature 6 engages with its;

free end the lever at the opposite side of the stem whereby as one or the other of the armatures'is energized, the lever will 'be pivoted and the valve will be opened or closed as the case maybe.

Cooperating with the armature 5 is an electromagnet 7 in 'a'circuit 8 which includes a source of electrical energy, such as a batterg 9, a push button 10, and a magnet 11.

operating with the armature 6 is an .electromagnet 12 in a circuit 13 which ineludes the battery 9, a push button 14, a magnet 15 and a thermostatic contact ele-. ment 16. The element 16 comprises an arm 17 carrying acontact, and an arm 18 formed of two different metal strips arran ed side by side and in contact with each ot er and carrying a contact point. The arms 17 and 18 are carried on an insulating base, and the free end of the arm 18 extends over the burner 1 and over the end of a pilot tube 19 communicating with the pipe 2, with the valve 3 between the point of communication and the burner 1 whereby the pilot light will burn when the valve is closed.

A single armature 20 cdoperates with the magnets :11 and 15 and will, .by its position indicate whether the valve 3 is open or closed.

The push buttons 10 and 14, and the magnets 11, 15 and their armature 20 .are preferably situated in a station 21 located at a distance from the burner 1 and the device to be heated thereby. Instead of, or in ad-' dition to, the indicator above described, thestation 21 may comprise a buzzer in either of the circuits 8 or 13, preferably the latter, whereby an auditory signal may begiven.

The burner being part of a water heater located in a bathroom, the station21 may be conveniently located in a bedroom, or there may, if desired, be a plurality of stations located at difierentplaces and all electrically connected to the same heater. 0r there may, if desired be a plurality of heaters operated from a common station.

In the embodiment of the invention illusits trated in Fig. 2, a luminous signal such as a' lamp 22 in an independent circuit 23 may be employed. in the'circuit 23 is located a pair of spaced spring arms 24; and 25 more mall y spaced apartland 'which may be brou ht into contact by means of a pm 26 which includes the element trated in Fig. 1 is as follows:

The. pilot'light burmng as it will because of the connectionof its tube with the gas main 2 below the valve 3will keep the therinostatic element. 18 hot, and sald element will be in position to close the contact with the arm '17 and circuit 13, or 13 as the case may be will'be closed.

en it" desired 'to lightithe burner the circuit will be closed by pushing the but-- ton 14, the'circuit will'then'be from the battery 9 through the magnet 15, which will attract the armature 20 and move the same to indicate On and operate the buzzer.

1 The current will pass throughthe closed contact 17-'18 energizethe magnet 12 which will attract its armature 16 and the latter will-engage the lever 4 and open the valve 3 Thegas escaping from the burnerwill beli 'ted by the ilot flame. I II, when the va ve is turned off, the pilot flame should be accidentally extinguished, the thermostatic member will contract-be- 7 cause of the absence of heat, andthe conthat there has been no response at,the'sta-' tact 1718 will be broken; If, now, the button 14be pressed none of the magnets willbe ener ized and the armature 20 will indicate fifand the valve 3 will remain closed. There will be no escape of gas from theburner, and danger from't be avoided. The operator will know from the fact at source will tion 21, that the pilot light has been extinguished, and it will be necessary for him to relight it before he can operate the station to light the burner. The operator will knowthat the gas has been escaping from the tube 19 and he will, when he enters the bath-room, a't accordingly, and danger 7 from an explosion, orasphyxiation will be avoided.

. When it is-desired to extinguish the flame at theburner, the button 10 is pressed, the magnets 7 and 14 are energized and the lever 4 is moved to close the valve, and the arma has been turnedofi.

mm 20' will indicate the fact In the modification illustrated in 2 I the operation is the same as that above described, except that when the lever is moved to open the valve the pin 26 will make a contact at'24-;25 in alighting circuit and a lam '22 W111 be lighted. When the valve V is c osedthecontact 2425' will be broken anilnthelamphxtinguished. i

Flg. 3 is shown an arrangement in and the push button 14 is that the gas which a single burner may be operated irom a plurality of stations such as that shown at2linFigil. 1

Fig. 4 s ows a wiring arrangement in whichtwo stations such as 21 may be emplriyed in connection with a single burner.

ig. 5 shows diagrammatically a wiring arrangementin which a plurality of burners. may be 0 erated from one or more stations such as. s own at '21, or by eliminatin the circuit 23 the burners may be operated one or more stations 21.

While the invention has been described in connection with a water heater, it is to be understood that the. same may be carried min out in connection with other forms of devices'such as gas stoves, gas logs, (so-called) etc.

- In accordance withthe provisions of the patent statutes the principle of the invention'has been described, together with the apparatus which is-now considered to represent the best embodiment thereof, but-1t is desired to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and

that the invention may-be carried-out in other Ways.

The invention having been described what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a gas supply pipe, a burner on the pipe, a pilot light tube in communication with the pipe and having an opening in-proximity-to and above the burner, a valve in the pipe between the pilot tube and the burner, an electric circuit including a magnet for moving the valve to open position, said circuit being interrupted by a break therein, a thermostatic element acted on b the flame ofthe pilot tube to close the brea in the circuit, a switch in the circuit, and means governed by the position of said switch for indicating whether ornot said ilot'tube is lighted, and a switch for closmg the valve, said switches and indicating means being located at a'distance from the burner.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a gas supply pipe, a burner on the pipe, a pilot light tube communicating.

with the pipe, said tube having an opening in proximity to and above the burner-whereby a flame on the tube will ignite gas escaping from the burner, a valve in the pipe between the tube and burner, a magnet for moving the valve to closed position, an electric circuit in which the magnet is located, a signal magnetin the circuit, a push button in said circuit, a second electric circuit, a magnet located in said second circuit adapted to open the valve, a second signal ma et in the second circuit, a second push button being in said second circuit,,an armatare common to both signal magnets, there .being an interruption in the second circuit,

and responsive means acted on by the flame of the pilot tube to close said second circuit when the pilot tube is lighted and to break said circuit when the tube is unlighted whereby said second push button will be inoperative.

This specification signed and witnessed this 14th day of October, 1921.

ELWOOD S. WHITE.

Witnesses:

JAB. F. CbLEMAN, Fnmmmo B. CHANDLER. 

